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I bought this back in 2004 in Tucson. It was sold as a "saguaro," but as I look at pictures of saguaros, this doesn't seem to match. I think it is likely a different cactus species. Can anyone ID this guy?

BTW, it consisted of the lower segment for nearly 11 years without a single sign of growth. Then one year it started sprouting the top section, which has grown steadily ever since. The entire plant is now around 24" tall.

Anyway, any help ID-ing this would be most appreciated!

Bottom section looks like saguaro. Compare its spines with this:
https://www.pics4learning.com/details.p ... spines.jpg

Away from its native habitat a cactus may look quite different. How many hours of sunshine it gets dayly?

Agreed with George concerning to sunshine. Looks like it hasn't enouph sun. Bottom is a real carnegia but upper part reminds trichocereus or neobuxbaumia )) . I think the key is in the sun.

Not very well up on the larger Cerei since they take up too much room in UK greenhouses and we are unlikely to see them flower so not many grow them, but could it be the Saguaro equivalent Pachycereus?

https://www.bing.com/images/search?view ... ajaxserp=0

Very strange looking indeed. Bottom is definitely a saguaro. Like others have said, perhaps sun and habitat.

A Seattle summer is like winter in Tuscon, it must have been confused.

DaveW wrote: ↑Fri Oct 07, 2022 9:01 am Not very well up on the larger Cerei since they take up too much room in UK greenhouses and we are unlikely to see them flower so not many grow them, but could it be the Saguaro equivalent Pachycereus?

P.pringlei and saguaro are noticeably different up close. Spines too. Areole fuzz on the former tend to join up (at least at this size):
https://apps.cals.arizona.edu/arboretum ... aspx?id=28

My first reaction on seeing the OP's pic was that it was a graft

Thanks to everyone who has weighed in. Wow, sounds like I have a genuine Frankenstein cactus!

More info: It has spent the past 11 years here in Seattle, which as was noted, has a smidge different climate than its native Tucson. It spends about 6 months each year (late Spring-early Fall) outside, where it gets full sun. The rest of the year when it is dropping into the 30's and below at night, it comes indoors. It doesn't get a lot of direct sun during those months, and kind of hibernates. It still grows during this time, but more slowly.

If it gets much bigger I will have trouble continuing to care for it in this fashion. I would consider selling it to a local cactus enthusiast with greater ability to give it the love and care it deserves.

Looks like a real graft over that saguaro... if not the its owner vows. But the conditions are important. I have many cacti that change spines and overall look just from using different soil and moving those to a different shelf or windowsill.

I know I'm a little late to this party, but both sections look like saguaro to me. It makes total sense that the softer look is the result of less intense sun exposure. I have some plants growing in shadier spots that more resemble the top growth. Did the top get damaged at some point after you left Arizona? The good news is it that it does not look etiolated.

tumamoc wrote: ↑Mon Oct 10, 2022 6:16 pm I know I'm a little late to this party, but both sections look like saguaro to me. It makes total sense that the softer look is the result of less intense sun exposure. I have some plants growing in shadier spots that more resemble the top growth. Did the top get damaged at some point after you left Arizona? The good news is it that it does not look etiolated.

As far as I know it has never been damaged. In fact, it literally showed no growth or changes whatsoever in the first 11 years. I always thought it was a little funny that way. It seemed in fine health, just in no hurry to do anything. Once it started sprouting the top section though it never looked back.

Could the base also be a top cut off a more established plant that has been cut off and rooted down? Hence a top cut with mature spination often continues growth with juvenile weaker spination when it resumes growth. It is always difficult with top cuts to manage to "blur" the old growth into the new, so the transition is virtually undetectable. Usually instituting new growth very slowly so it is harder helps.

DaveW wrote: ↑Wed Oct 12, 2022 10:27 am Could the base also be a top cut off a more established plant that has been cut off and rooted down? Hence a top cut with mature spination often continues growth with juvenile weaker spination when it resumes growth. It is always difficult with top cuts to manage to "blur" the old growth into the new, so the transition is virtually undetectable. Usually instituting new growth very slowly so it is harder helps.

That's an interesting thought. I bought it from Tanque Verde Greenhouse way back in 2004. They had many for sale, perhaps that's how they cultivated them to sell.

Saguaros cuttings are difficult to root, while the species is easily grown from seed, so cuttings are rarely seen.